Along the way, Elementary should prove rather conclusively that it's a solid cousin to Sherlock and will give fans of the character more chances to see him solve crimes.

It is, flat out, one of the most intriguingly entertaining new series of the year, and it’s so much more than pure entertainment. For a sci-fi series, there’s some real heft to it.

Oxygen's entertaining new spinoff reflects well on the blockbuster franchise and illuminates the pressures faced by talented kids on the brink of showbiz success.

The creatures are essentially designed as bowling pins for our protagonists to knock over with a well-placed shot and a quip, and Keeslar and Morales’ interaction is nothing if not playful and lively. But you’re left not really knowing if you want to come return and spend a whole lot more time with this quarrelsome twosome.

As exciting as the original.

Arrow, proves to be both on-brand and entertaining--if you turn off the snark detector and downplay the need for plausibility or logic.

Wolk pulls off a tricky role with the help of some strong writing, providing some emotional grounding for this enigmatic character.

Dinosaurs are certainly alive and well in Primeval, a crackling-good new BBC America sci-fi series thriller that's packed with vivid CGI prehistoric predators galore and a story line that's almost plausible.

So, during the course of three episodes, there's not much sucking up, enough dissing to keep the whole thing honest, tons of magnificent cars, fast driving and enough goofiness to make this Top Gear get off the line without any mishaps.

Even with its eye-rolling plot and its McMusic, High School Musical 2, like the original, does well by doing good.

Well-cast and full of expensive-looking special effects, FlashForward should hook a respectable number of viewers with its combination of surprise and suspense.

Fortunately for the audience, the show on which he struggles to save the republic is back on track after a season of misdirection followed by a year away.

Ripper Street is a well-acted, well-written and compelling mystery series. And even better, there's no waiting around, wishing it would improve. It's alluring from the start.

It is a series that boasts more than a few terrific performances, and yet it is surprisingly mellow, nearly devoid of the kinds of dramatic moments that resonate after the final credits roll.

Instead of going in-depth with a few models, there's a carousel of names and familiar faces each awarded only a few soundbites, taken up mostly with biography, before the camera moves on.

Outrageous at times, sentimental at other times, "The Boondocks" brings a unique and satiric vision to animation.

What gives this serious heft and its own unique feel is the family drama woven throughout the premiere. That, and a group of particularly talented and skilled cast members who, under director Thomas Schlamme, take their performances to the highest levels.

While it is far from apparent that Friday night is the best place for this smart and stylish show, one can assume USA will move it elsewhere, if necessary, to give it the chance it deserves.

Spin City doesn't yet spin into a totally satisfying comic groove, instead going for the obvious and the expected when it comes to the ways and means of politics. [17 Sept 1996]

Every actor nails their lines, which keeps Veep moving at a brisk pace. In fact, the episodes seem to end so quickly, you'll wish they lasted an hour.

Creator-writer Norman Morrill's drama is so taut and his approach to the genre so sharp that the only significant complaint is that the first "season" is only six episodes.

The Face borrows plenty of concepts from other modeling and competition shows, but it manages to throw enough fashion and dramatic interest at viewers to be engaging.

The escapism is sky high. Valley remains as charismatic as ever, with McBride's disdainful asides and Haley's chilly creepiness intact. It would be unfortunate if Human Target somehow got soapy or dumber, because good popcorn is rare.

This is good fun -- not necessarily substantial, but fun nonetheless.

At its best, the narration, delivered by Tom Selleck, is clear and unadorned, but it occasionally falls into purple patches of grandiloquence.... A heavy hand prevails in the music cues, too, which can be cutesy or  obvious. Such emphatic accompaniment, in music and prose, is unnecessary when the images are so potent.

The entertainment value and suspense of Falling Skies is paced just right. You get the sense that we'll get those answers eventually. And yet, you want to devour the next episode immediately.

The show from creator Nahnatchka Khan is fresh and funny, with fast-paced jokes and witty cynicism in abundance.

This one has more heart and is a better fit with its primetime neighbors.